James Brindley Academy Hospital Sector provides education for all children and young people from Foundation Stage 1 (nursery) through to Post-16, who are receiving inpatient treatment across our hospital sites. Our educational provision begins on day four of a pupil’s admission or day six for Post-16. If a pupil is however regularly readmitted to hospital, our provision will begin immediately.

For pupils admitted across our hospital settings, the purpose of the curriculum is to minimise the impact of a pupil’s stay on their education and wellbeing.

Our aim is to complement their home school curriculum whilst targeting identified gaps in their learning. As a hospital school, we work within a multidisciplinary team including NHS professionals, to ensure the best outcomes for pupils. We adapt our teaching and learning to take full account of individual educational, medical, social and emotional needs, supporting our pupils to overcome their personal challenges. We aim to build resilience and encourage perseverance by providing a safe environment where pupils feel safe and ready to learn.

Staff are committed to prepare pupils to transition from hospital back into an educational setting. Support may be provided from our SENCO, for example, should an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) be required.

 

Home School Curriculum

In the first instance, teaching staff will aim to focus on learning activities based upon the curriculum of the pupil’s own school and teaching will be personalised to the needs of the individual. This will be informed by curriculum information of the pupil’s home school, parents, and the child.

 

James Brindley Academy Hospitals Curriculum

Our James Brindley Academy Hospitals thematic curriculum is intended primarily for our short-term and medium-term stay pupils, although is available to all our hospital inpatient pupils. Our termly cross curricular themes complement key skills from the National Curriculum which pupils would be focusing on in their home schools.

Each term, our curriculum theme changes. During Winter term 2022, pupils will learn about Extreme Worlds! An overview of our current Hospitals Curriculum is provided below.

Reading Scheme for KS1: Pearson Bug Club Phonics / Bug Club

Phonics Scheme: Twinkl Phonics

 

Bespoke Provision for Complex Needs

For pupils with more specialised learning needs such as PMLD or where their own school curriculum is no longer appropriate, we will provide teaching and learning activities that address the bespoke needs of the individual. This may involve a more therapeutic and/or sensory approach. We have our own SENDCO on site, along with experienced teaching staff to assess what is most appropriate and to liaise with home schools. We work collaboratively with a whole range of NHS professionals, including the Neurosurgery team and Learning Disability nurses. We are able to assist multidisciplinary teams and home schools with EHCP reviews for pupils who are inpatients, especially where it is identified that a change of educational placement may be required.

 

Post-16

For post 16 pupils, we can provide support with A-Level study, liaison with colleges and universities, as well as providing Careers advice. If pupils are well enough, wherever appropriate, we may facilitate examinations.